Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12V353000FORD MOTOR COMPANY V (Vehicle)42363408/03/2012ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY07/26/201207/26/2012
Defect SummaryFord motor company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 escape vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 engines and speed control manufactured from october 22, 1999, through january 23, 2004. inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. this risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Consequence SummaryA stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Corrective SummaryFord will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. the safety recall began august 3, 2012. remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-august 2012. until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NotesFord's recall campaign number is 12s37.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
04160111/14/20050522810018745Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running. *tt01/12/2006
1680904/01/200310002642The new high flow water pump is not yet listed in the parts catalog but will be soon. the service can be ordered through normal part ordering system. *tt09/09/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
0420801/01/2006063510019382Camshaft tick noise - 3.0l 4v engine only. *tt03/13/2006
03140408/23/20040416110011162Engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. to include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.01/06/2005
1620009/01/200210008598V-6 badge discontinued. *mj08/09/2004
0325212/22/200310008277Engine-cooling system-low coolant warning indicator lamp illuminaion-coolant degas bottle inspection-serice tip. *mj07/26/2004
0223101/01/2004047710008205Driveability-intermittent engine quit or idle dip-no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) present-vehicles equipped with 3.0l duratec engine only. *mj07/23/2004
1770304/01/200410008217Ticking noise from left cylinder head with warm engine. *tt07/23/2004
0314407/21/200310003744Engine misfire or rough running condition with coil on plug (cop) ignition systems may be more accurately diagnosed using the optional worldwide diagnostic system (wds) coil on plug (cop) kit. 2003 super duty f series included. *tt10/29/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1901601/01/200610019076Replace timing belt idler pulley during 2.0l zetec engine cylinder head replacement - service tip. *tt02/10/2006

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RP04002FORD MOTOR COMPANY06/24/200408/31/2004ENGINE STALLING
 Summary:the petitioner alleges that after having the recall remedy performed on her model year (my) 2001 ford escape, it continued to exhibit an intermittent stall condition.consequently, she petitioned the agency to examine the adequacy of the recall remedy for safety recall 04v-165.on april 5, 2004, ford motor company (ford) notified the agency that it would conduct a recall of 321,903 my 2001 through 2002 and certain 2003 my escape vehicles equipped with 3.0l engines manufactured between january 21, 2000 and september 11, 2002 at the kansas city assembly plant.these vehicles exhibited an intermittent engine stall during decelerations at vehicle speeds below 40 mph due to an excessively rich fuel-air mixture in the engine.as a remedy, ford dealers are instructed to reprogram the powertrain control module (pcm) to a revised calibration to prevent the stalling condition. in its july 23, 2004 response to the office of defects investigation

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
09/10/20121030001
 My car is misfiring and stalling on de-acceleration (when we slow down). it started recently. first it had the engine light come on. we had it tested by a mechanic with the electrical reader and it said we needed a new coil. we replaced the coil, did a full tune up and it still is not working. after many hours of research we see that the ford escape pcm has been a consistent manufacturing problem and the 2003 ford escape had this problem. i call ford and they tell me my car was not covered under that particular recall. however, it is clear that this is a serious problem with ford escape. what i am to do? drive the car like this and risk it stalling in an intersection or on a hill and have the possibility of a crash? ford should be held responsible for this manufacturing problem that they have documented over the years. *tr
02/15/2012
 When i recently had my routine maintenance check on my vehicle i was horrified when my mechanic informed me that the front sub frame was rusted from the inside out! can you imagine my utter shock when my mechanic advised me that this vehicle is prohibited to be driven since catastrophic outcomes would be likely? how very fortunate nothing fatal took place while being in this vehicle; because based on the condition of the sub frame it could have been my reality to suffer detrimental consequences. my young children are in this suv every single day and to think their lives were at risk just by being a passenger has sickened me beyond words. i had no other choice but to get it repaired asap, so i informed the customer relationship center of ford motor company as instructed by their website and all they could do was apologize for any inconvenience. this frightening situation goes far beyond from being an inconvenience it could have been a major life threatening issue. i was not asking ford for a new vehicle, i simply was asking for assistance towards a major expense that was not caused by my lack of protecting my major investment with routine maintenance checks but by ford having defective sub-frames installed in their vehicles. my mechanic has never seen such a structural defect as this ever before! ford has already manufactured vehicles that involved major recalls for the the exact same problem, so quite naturally other ford models could suffer the same dangerous consequences with regards to the front sub frame . i believe an investigation on this horrific issue is deemed a necessity due to the history of ford's sub frames. this has been very devastating to me and i can't imagine allowing another consumer to endure this major fear. your attention to this is appreciated.
02/01/2012
 This vehicle has a bad misfire problem,rough idle as well as bad hitching on highway.looked it up on yahoo answers and a lot of people are having the same problem.is there going to be a recall on these vehicles.im hearing faulty computers.
07/17/2011141000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated the vehicle started hesitating and sputtering prior to the failure. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic who changed was the spark plugs and the coils were replaced prior to the catalytic converter failing. the catalytic converter failure ruined the engine. the failure mileage was 141,000 and the current mileage was 142,000. rvk
07/17/2011141000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated the catalytic converter failed on the vehicle. the contact stated the vehicle start hesitating and sputtering prior to the failure. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and the first thing that was changed was the spark plugs. then the coils were replaced prior to the catalytic converter failing. the failure to the converter has ruined the engine on the vehicle. the failure mileage was 141,000 and the current mileage was 142,000.rl
01/16/201143625
 I have a ford 2003 escape 6 cyl. bought in may of 2004 new - 76 miles on it test driven from a dealer in schulenburg, tx - the check engine light came on - the pcm computer went out and blew a spark plug on 1/16/2011 - i had to replace the pcm (which i was told should have been a recall on the 2003 ford escape) since this should never go out on the car. the milage was only 43,625 on 1/16/2011 when this happened. i have the car for 7-8 yrs. now. i had to replace the pcm with a remanufactured (since it would cost way more for a new one) pcm - electronic ignition costing me just over $2,100. again, this part was intended to never go out for the life of the car, period. this should have been a recall on ford motor companies part - and i was told to complain and record this to nhtsa as others have, and if enough do, they would have to recall. i am not sure if i am in the right place to place this complaint.
03/10/200870000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated the throttle body sticks when the temperature is below zero. the contact said the throttle starts to stick after they have been driving the vehicle for awhile. the contact mechanic said this is happening because the throttle is staying open. the contact mechanic stated the throttle body is freezing and that it is a manufacturer defect. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 90,000.
11/28/2010150000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle had suddenly shuttered and completely stalled. she was able to restart the vehicle. the vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that her vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 150,000. tb
02/01/2010150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the vehicle stalls and shut down without warning while driving at any speed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer once for the failure. the diagnose was not able to duplicated the failure. recent failure occurred june 27,2010 while driving on the highway at 55mph. the manufacturer was contacted.the manufacturer stated the vehicle had no open recall and was not in included in recall 04v165000 power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm, pcm . the failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 157,000. li
07/22/200880000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. intermittently, the vehicle failed to accelerate while the contact was driving approximately 60 mph up an incline. the vehicle would also suddenly accelerate without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the gasket recirculator was repaired. the contact was informed to drive the vehicle on the highway at a high speed. as the contact was attempting to accelerate to a high speed she suddenly heard a loud sound. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the gasket recirculator was repaired for the second time and the catalytic converter was also serviced. in march 2010 while traveling at 60 mph the contact attempted to accelerate and the pedal had fallen to the floor and the vehicle would not accelerate. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would not offer any assistance with the repairs. the current mileage was approximately 100,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 80,600.
12/22/2009635001
 Ford is not allowing my car to be included in the safety recall: 04s13 for powertrain control module re-calibration. i have notified ford and they are saying they never miss a vehicle that gets recalled. my vehicle has stalled more than 7 times when decelerating under 40pmh. i have brought my car into a mechanic two times for the same problem. everytime it was determined that there was no reason for the vehicle to stall. *tr
07/14/2008107000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. when the contact decelerated and reached a speed of 40 mph or less, the vehicle would stall. it would completely shut down with no power steering or braking ability. she shifted into neutral while depressing the accelerator pedal in order to restart the vehicle. the failure occurred at least once per day. the dealer stated that they would repair the vehicle at the contact's expense. the manufacturer stated that her vin was not included in any recalls related to the failure. the current mileage was approximately 110,000 and failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
08/10/20081
 My 2003 ford escape stalls while driving leaving me without power steering or brakes. i contacted ford at 800-392-3673 to ask about a recall. i found out that ford has recalled 363,440 ford escapes for this exact problem. i was told that my vin number did not correspond with the 363,440 ford escapes they recalled but to keep intouch with my service manager at the ford dealership for more updates. at this time they cannot do anything about it. *tr
05/26/200654000109/14/2004
 I had a 2003 ford escape that started having problems starting. it was usually when i had left the vehicle for 8 or more hours. i would try to start it and it would hesitate and take a while to start it. after a few tries it would jerk back at me and start. this was a problem for about 2-months. on may 26, 2006 i left my vehicle in the parking lot at work. it was the first really hot day (90+ degrees) of the year. when i got back to my car it hesitated when i cranked it. i cranked it again and it popped back and me and then there was an explosion. there was smoke coming out of the hood. i opened the hood (burning my finger in the process) and found parts and pieces everywhere. i took it to the ford dealership and the upper intake manifold blew apart. the dealer never gave us a reason why (we pushed but we were told that it shouldn't have happened and that the engineer was on vacation). we had the upper intake manifold fixed and it cost us a lot of money out-of-pocket. i asked them for the old upper intake manifold back, but they wouldn't give it back. i was always intending to file a complaint. the ford was 3-years old with 54,000 miles on it, so it was out of warranty, although the dealer stated that it was a faulty part that caused the problem? it is possible that it was n a horrible misfire, but we aren't sure. i do know that it scared me and could have hurt someone. luckily the vehicle did not catch on fire. the problem was fixed for 2-months when the vehicle started hesitating again when i started it. i was terrified to drive it and the dealer told me it was unrelated but i could pay (again) to have it looked at. i started having panic attacks when driving the vehicle, so we traded it in. i would like a refund and to stop this from happening to other people. *nm
01/10/20051
 Nhtsa campaign 04v165000; ford issued an engine stalling recall. this vehicle is not included in the recall, but the engine stalls unexpectedly. the vin is outside the remedy scope. *nm
08/10/2004211211
 While driving consumer made a turn and vehicle lost power. ford stated that recall04v165000 was issued. *ak
09/15/20035600
 My 2003 ford escape which i purchased in april of 2003 caught fire in the engine due to a defect in the fuel injectors. within 20 minutes the entire front end of the car was engulfed in flames and destroyed. the flames also penetrated through the fire wall within little time. i am currently working with my insurance company as the car is a total loss. at this time i have had no response to my calls to ford regarding this extreme malfunction.
05/26/20031
 While driving at any speed and without warning the vehicle stalled and it would be hard to start up the vehicle again. *tt
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
07/15/2007770001
 Dealership failed to notify me of current vehicle recalls regarding my 2003 ford escape limited, failed to identify mechanical problems during scheduled maintenance (oil change) as recommended by the ford motor company, which states its technicians perform a multi-point inspection with the most up-to-date training which led to subsequent engine failure (locked-up). *tr
11/25/2003211/05/2002
 I bought a 2003 ford escape in november 2002 and i have experienced a lot of problems with my suv over 5 times. right now, my suv is in the shop for a coolant system replacement and a radio replacement. my radio was replaced twice this year already. my suv wouldn't start twice this year. i believe i have driven a loaner car at least 5 times since nov 2003. i am not happy with my suv. i feel it is a lemon. it has been a problem for me since day one. *la
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
08/15/2011170000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked for thirty minutes when smoke started to emit from the engine. the hood was then raised and flames were also coming from the engine. the fire department reported to the scene, but the contact extinguished the fire himself. the fire department filed a report which was available if needed. no injuries were reported and the origin of the fire was located at the anti lock brake control box. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, who would inspect the vehicle and report their findings to the contact. neither the manufacturer, nor insurance company were made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 170,000. sm.
08/15/2011170000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact stated the vehicle was parked for thirty minutes when smoke started coming from the engine. the hood was raised and there was flames coming from the engine. the contact put the fire out but still called the fire department who came out. the fire department filed a report which was available if needed. no one was injured and the origin of the fire came from the abs control box. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who will inspect the fire area and get back to him. the insurance company was not contacted. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 170,000. mw
08/10/2009527131
 My 2003 ford escape 6 cyl 2 wheel drive was stopped at a stoplight when the engine suddenly revved to over 4000 rpm for approximately 7 seconds. fortunately, i had my foot on the brake at the time. changing from drive to neutral had no effect on the rpms and the engine went back to about 1500 rpms through no action on my part. afterwards, the vehicle drove normally. i recall that similar occurrences have happened in the past so i wanted to get this information to you asap. i do not recall what vehicles were involved at that time. what worries me is if that happens while i am in a parking lot backing out or some other situation where my reaction would be too slow to stop an accident or damage to my vehicle. the vehicle has about 32,000 miles on it and i am the original owner. *tr
01/12/200875000309/20/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. while attempting to make a left turn at 5 mph, the vehicle shut off. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current mileage was 78,942 and failure mileage was 75,000.
11/05/200762900111/08/2002
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. while driving 20 mph, the brake pedal was applied. the engine began to rev and the rpm raced to its maximum potential. the contact turned off the engine in order to stop the vehicle. there were no warning indicators present. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. the current and failure mileages were 62,900. updated 01/09/08. *lj the consumer stated noise in front end when hitting a bump and performed inspection per recall. updated 12/12/07 *tr
05/29/200766000404/28/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. while driving under 40 mph, the engine failed. the failure has occurred on four different occasions. safety recall # 04v165000 (power train:automatic transmission control module (tcm, pcm)) does not apply to the vin. the purchase date and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 66,000. updated 02/01/08. *lj updated 02/01/08 *tr
12/06/2006360681507/18/2003
 Tl* - the contact stated that the car stalls when the car is put into gear or when he comes to a stop. the contact has taken the car to superior ford six times and they have replaced: the throttle position sensor, vapor management vale, mass air flow sensor, valve-air bypass, purge regulation valve, body assist air charge, and ecc processor was recalibrated. the contact said that the car still continues to stall after all theses parts have been changed. the contact said that he has also sent certified letters to ford about the problem. contact can provide all of the repair orders.
08/31/200635552106/14/2003
 I was driving my vehicle from minnesota to idaho when, i've been told, a connector belt broke and broke through the engine. as a result, the entire engine must be replaced. i was pulling a 5 x 8 trailer with a class 3 hitch and i've been advised by the service technician that the trailer did not contribute to the breakdown. as the vehicle cleared a hill on an interstate, there was a loud noise from the bottom of the truck and spraying liquid and smoke. when we inspected the vehicle, the oil had completely drained from the oil reservoir (i've been advised that the oil cap was firmly in place and did not contribute to the incident). the vehicle was towed to a local dealership and is currently in process of receiving a new engine. there is a hole in the bottom of the truck and metal parts in the engine. i've asked about why the failure occurred and the service technician stated that they didn't know. when i called ford customer service about this they told me that the engine will be sent to ford for analysis but the findings will not be shared with me. my concern about this breakdown is that this is the second new ford vehicle i've purchased where the engine had to be replaced shortly following the expiration of the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. this current vehicle has 35,552 miles and the warranty expired on 6/14/06. *nm
10/16/200534875110/24/2002
 I was exiting off the interstate and around 35 mph my engine completely died and i lost power steering. i was able to make it to the shoulder and restart the vehicle, but the rpms kept bouncing around. i took the vehicle into my local ford dealer, but they said nothing was wrong with it. i researched online myself and found that ford had a recall that matched my exact situation/problem. the nhtsa id is 04v165000. ford said my vin number was not included in the recall. however, i find it hard to believe that mine should be excluded considering that my vehicle is the same make/model/year/engine type of the recalled ones and my problem matched exactly with what was referenced in the recall. also my warranty runs out in 2 weeks and i don't want the same problem to happen again and then let the dealer find the problem. it also concerns me because my wife drives my car and i'm concerned about my family.*jb
10/26/20043600509/18/2002
 1. vehicle had recall 04s13 performed for posible loss of power when decelerating. vehicle is a 2003 ford escape. vehicle was 19 months old with 3600 miles and had not had any prior problems.*aki 2. 2 weeks after recall was performed the vehicle was in an accident due to the exact conditions that the recall was to prevent. the vehicle was returned to service dept. and they supposedly repaired problem. vehicle now unexpectedly accelerates usually when braking. this has happened 5 times and continues to get worse every time. the last incident the vehicle was idling and about half way into a parking space and it accelerated own its own, the front wheels jumped a 6 inch verticle curb, and left 5 foot skid marks in the grass while trying to stop. 3. the dealer has driven the vehicle but the problem did not occur. dealer installed flight recorder for two weeks. the problem did not occur. they removed flight recorder and a technician rode in vehicle the problem occured and technician had vehicle taken back to shop. they could not find anything and returned vehicle. acceleration occured again they reinstalled flight recorder and said they needed three recording to diagnois problem. this has not occured yet and dealer is calkling to get flight recorder back.
07/10/2004208/02/2003
 New car, owned 10 months. 16,000 miles on it. sudden engine failure, no warning what so ever, ie; no overheating, alarm etc. engine replaced, 10 days later drove only 12 miles on new engine. blew head gasket, and engine began to burn. again no warning. *jb
06/07/2004350001
 While driving at low speeds the vehicle stalled without warning. please provide additional information. *jb
04/01/2004155201
 While driving down rt 10 w at 50 mph my 2003 ford escape stalled. i had to sit with my hazards on, in the left lane of this busy highway, until the police could come and move me to a safe place. i could have been killed. this is the second time this has happened and the dealership has had it in repair for15 days prior to this.*ak
11/15/2002910/31/2002
 Problems with vehicle's engine, and windows.*mr prior to date, vehicle was serviced six times for: difficulty in cranking, clinking noises in the engine and difficulty with the idle. despite the latest service, cranking and idling continued. dealer was unable to repair the recurring problems which continued to exist. consumer later discovered the rear window leaked. consumer stated vehicle is a defective and inferior product. *ph *nlm
08/13/200310460612/08/2002
 I have complained twice before about my 2003 ford escape stalling without warning. it has now done it a total of 6 times. the vehicle stalls without warning in various situations. the most unnerving was when i was traveling at about 15 mph. it has also hesitated and bucked into an intersection on 2 different occasions. i contacted the executive offices at ford motor company and expressed my safety concerns, and i was informed that because the problem is not reproducable they do not feel that they are in a position to repurchase the vehicle at this time. my dealership has attempted to reproduce the stall and are unable, as am i. they have performed a tsb, installed a new throttle body and a new crankshaft sensor. the problem continues to persist. i now have a vdr in the vehicle for the third time. this vehicle is a major danger to myself, my passengers and anyone who is around the vehicle when it may stall due to the fact that when it does happen i lose all power steering and brakes. i do not trust the vehicle and i no longer feel safe in it.*ak
07/31/20039578412/02/2002
 Escape stalled for the fourth time. i did have a vdr in the vehicle for 5 weeks but it did not stall during that time. the dealer said it was safe to take it out because it did not seem like it was going to do it again. well it did and i lost all braking and steering ability. *ph
07/10/20033500110/01/2002
 While driving at 50/55 mph vehicle died out without warning. this resulted in loss of power steering and brakes.the cost for repairs were $114.21. *ak *cb
06/13/200375001
 Engine stalling. *ak
06/25/20037465012/02/2002
 My escape stalled 2 times last month. i took it into be serviced where i was assured they did everything necessary on the tsb. it stalled again today and i took it back. i was told they don't know why it is stalling and they have equipped the car with a button that i am to push when it happens again and then return. this does not sound safe to me considering i drive almost 50 miles a day, plus it is a major inconvenience. *nlm
12/18/20021000312/15/2003
 While driving at highway speeds engine shut down and caused loss of power steering. *nlm *scc
03/27/20032681
 I've had my new suv for 4 days (270 miles) - it stalled while sitting in traffic. lost all power. managed to get it over in a empty turning lane, turned everything off, put it back in park and it started right up. luckily i was only 2 miles from the dealership. before purchasing, salesman assured me that the stalling problem that occurred on earlier models was corrected with the 2003 model. apparently not. i drive in heavy traffic to and from work - this happened going to work, been in vehicle about 30 minutes. *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
01/16/201143625
 I have a ford 2003 escape 6 cyl. bought in may of 2004 new - 76 miles on it test driven from a dealer in schulenburg, tx - the check engine light came on - the pcm computer went out and blew a spark plug on 1/16/2011 - i had to replace the pcm (which i was told should have been a recall on the 2003 ford escape) since this should never go out on the car. the milage was only 43,625 on 1/16/2011 when this happened. i have the car for 7-8 yrs. now. i had to replace the pcm with a remanufactured (since it would cost way more for a new one) pcm - electronic ignition costing me just over $2,100. again, this part was intended to never go out for the life of the car, period. this should have been a recall on ford motor companies part - and i was told to complain and record this to nhtsa as others have, and if enough do, they would have to recall. i am not sure if i am in the right place to place this complaint.
12/30/20091301821
 I own a 2003 ford escape with a 6 cylinder engine which i bought new from harrold ford in sacramento 11/2002. i noticed a strong oil burning smell. and oil leaking from the engine. i was unable to locate the source of the leak, so i took the vehicle into harrold ford on 12/30/2009. the dealer informed me the oil was leaking thru the oil pan, and that ford had a retrofit for the problem. i asked if this was a seal problem. i was told no, the material the oil pan was made of allowed the oil to eventually start leaking directly thru the material. i asked if this was a recall due to the fire danger, and was told no. the repair was completed and the oil pan was replaced. i kept the old oil pan. *tr
12/18/200868000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. the contact took the vehicle to a repair shop because the emissions indicator was illuminated. the repair shop kept the vehicle for two weeks due to the parts that needed to be ordered. when the gasket was installed in the vehicle, the engine became very hot and the corking (used to seal the gasket) melted onto the catalytic converter. the dealer stated that the failure was due to the catalytic converter and would cost $3,700 just to start the vehicle and determine what other malfunctions were occurring. the manufacturer has not been notified. the current mileage was approximately 70,000 and failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
09/10/20031
 Without warning vehicle started smoking from underneath. the smoke was coming from vent area inside of vehicle. also, there was a bad smell. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
07/22/200880000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. intermittently, the vehicle failed to accelerate while the contact was driving approximately 60 mph up an incline. the vehicle would also suddenly accelerate without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the gasket recirculator was repaired. the contact was informed to drive the vehicle on the highway at a high speed. as the contact was attempting to accelerate to a high speed she suddenly heard a loud sound. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the gasket recirculator was repaired for the second time and the catalytic converter was also serviced. in march 2010 while traveling at 60 mph the contact attempted to accelerate and the pedal had fallen to the floor and the vehicle would not accelerate. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would not offer any assistance with the repairs. the current mileage was approximately 100,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 80,600.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
12/09/2007108/08/2003
 2003 escape limited 3.0 v6 is diagnosed with a cracked exhaust manifold resulting in leaking exhaust gases. vehicle mileage is 31,200 and has never been off paved roadways. i think this problem has existed for some time but has never been picked up on by regular maintenance visits to the dealership. my dealer explained that the problem is a common one and obviously should have been a recall item as leaking exhaust gases are very dangerous. *tr
09/24/20035982106/23/2003
 Exhaust system components radiate excessive heat when vehicle is parked. header, manifold, and catalytic converter combined temperatures cause scorching of grass when parked in a lowly-cut, grassy area. ramifications could be safety impacts to occupants and environmental.
06/16/20031
 After the vehicle was turned off for about 2 minutes a sizzling noise was heard. the muffler looked like it turned a reddish color. consumer suspected that muffler was corroded. *ak